Berlin
Germany

Berlin

Jobs

About

Berlin

Edgy Berlin is cosmopolitan and eclectic. The once-divided city lures a variety of artists and is known for its nightlife, rich culture, and most recently, the emergence of an entrepreneurial scene.

Unlike other big cities, Berlin is clean, safe, and surrounded by green open spaces. Everything is a bike ride away and you’ll never run out of things to do in one of the main startup capitals of the world.

Population Size

3,610,156

Time Zone

UTC+1 (UTC+2 in the Summer)

Currency

Euro (€)

Living

Cost of living

The best part of Berlin is how relatively inexpensive it is to live. While salaries are high, rent is very affordable.

Most important of all, the internet. When signing up for any internet provider, you will need to wait for a technician to come to your place (mind you, it’ll take something between 2-4 weeks after you’ve signed up). Prices are around €20 and €30 depending on internet speed (maximum is usually 100mbps).

Moving around

A travel pass will cost you around €80 and covers every public transport. The system is more than adequate, runs almost around the clock on weekends, and until late during the week (it can get tricky during the winter, though). You can either take the S-Bahn (train), U-Bahn (metro), trams or buses.

You can also pedal pretty much everywhere, but expect that eventually your bike might get stolen (it’s kind of a right of passage). You can buy it back at the flea market at Mauerpark, though!

Culture Shock

It’s no shock the German people value order, privacy, and punctuality. Careful planning and preparation is essential in both business and personal lives. It’s perfectly normal to set up a coffee with a friend two weeks in advance! But don’t worry, Berliners are usually very easy-going.

If you want to lose yourself in some of the magical places Berlin has to offer you, try some of our partners:

Moving in

Visa & permits

EU citizens can enter Germany freely and are entitled to live and work in Germany without a visa, but still need to get a residency permit. Non-EU citizens planning to live or work in the country will need to get the necessary work or residency permit (it’s essential to have it approved before arriving!).

Housing

There’s a place for everyone to feel at home in Berlin, be it a junior tech pro looking for their first big break or a senior tech pro with their family. Berlin is divided into 12 different neighbourhoods, each with its own vibe.

Most of Berlin’s fast-growing startup scene is located around Torstrasse. Prenzlauer Berg is the most family-oriented neighbourhood, filled with organic food shops and vegan cafes. Kreuzberg is ideal for those who love being a part of a varied culture scene; it’ll never be boring. Friedrichshain is also great for those who enjoy a lively lifestyle; the neighbourhood offers affordable housing and all sorts of restaurants, cafés, clubs, and shops.

First you need to decide if you want to settle in an Untermiete (a sub-let) or a Wohngemeinschaft (a flat share). Then, prepare to wait and fight for a place. Most rentals involve going through a Hausverwaltung (a Property Management group) that schedules a viewing of the property. Show up well dressed and queue until it’s your turn to go inside for a look. Be friendly and polite, shake the estate agent’s hand, and provide copies of a working contract, bank statements showing proof of salary for the last 3 months, a valid Schufa (a credit report), and if possible, a letter from a guarantor. After, remember to follow up by emailing the agency as soon as you get home. If house hunting in Berlin feels like you’re doing job interviews all over again, you’re doing it right.

The cost of rent is cheaper than most capitals, and accommodation is certainly more affordable than in other European capitals. Expect your rent and utilities to cost around €550 per month.

Taxes + Salaries

The German IT industry is both enormous and in desperate need of employees. Even though German salaries are one of the highest in the world, German taxes are also very high, and depending on salary, you can have as much as 45% deducted from your monthly earnings. To compensate, employers usually offer incentives like performance bonuses and contributions towards private health insurance policies.

Banks

Opening a bank account in Germany is easy and online banking is commonly used to make transactions and manage accounts. To open an account, you will need to provide your residence card, proof of address, and an ID card. Once opened, you’re issued a Eurocard (EC) which can be used to withdraw cash, print out bank statements from ATMs (Geldautomat), and make purchases — note that withdrawing money from another bank’s ATM will incur extra charges!

Healthcare

Berlin has a culture created around healthy living and prevention. It’s compulsory for all residents in Germany to have health insurance, so you will have to sign up for some form of it.

There are two types of health insurance in Germany: private health insurance through a company or statutory health insurance provided by the state. You can only take advantage of statutory health insurance if you’re formally employed by a company in Germany.

Employers share the cost of health insurance every month, regardless of whether you have chosen private or statutory health insurance.